When 'anger and hate' replaces 'jobs and the economy'

[maddezmom]

I've seen plenty of presidential candidates go off message at inopportune times, but it's rare to see a White House hopeful deliberately throw his message out the window just as the general election is heating up.

For over a year, Mitt Romney had a very specific focus: jobs and the economy. There were clearly legitimate questions about whether he had any credibility on the subject, and whether his agenda would make matters worse, but he was a disciplined candidate who remained focused on his principal goal.

And while this made sense -- polls show Americans care more about jobs and the economy than anything else -- the Republican shifted gears two weeks ago, moving his focus to "values" issues like welfare and contraception. Then Romney changed his message again, talking up Medicare.

¬snip¬
So, instead of talking about unemployment and the fragile economic recovery, the Romney campaign is focused on talking about the campaign. Nothing persuades struggling voters more than listening to politicians talk endlessly about campaign tactics and strategy, right?

Of course, there's another important angle to this: the substance of Romney's criticisms are also absurd, and if he's looking for an "angry and desperate" candidate, he's better off looking in the mirror.

There's been a concerted Republican effort over the last week or so to suggest President Obama is pushing the 2012 race in an ugly direction. That's ridiculous.

more: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/15/13295056-when-anger-and-hate-replaces-jobs-and-the-economy?lite

[ananda]

1. Maybe that's all they've got to run on..

.. I mean they don't really want the public to see
$R's tax returns; and they don't want Ryan's plan
at the fore; so what do they have left but nasty,
silly lies and trying to paint Obama and Biden
as angry, hateful, and negative.

I think people can see through this, though.